Objective To investigate influence factors of childhood essential hypertension and provide scientific evidence for prevention and management of the disease. Methods Relevant studies were searched using PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, Ovid, CNKI and VIP from January 2007 to December 2011. STATA 11 was applied for meta-analysis. After heterogeneity analysis, influence factors (OR with 95%CI) were estimated using fixed or random effect models. Sensitivity analyses were used for evaluating the robustness of the results. Publication bias was assessed by Egger’s test and funnel plot. Results A total of 13 studies involving 4 278 cases and 37 230 controls were included. The pooled OR and its 95%CI of different factors associated with hypertension among children were: gender (male) 1.283 (1.063 to 1.549), age 1.013 (0.975 to 1.052), overweight 2.622 (1.985 to 3.464), obesity 3.730 (2.299 to 6.051), waist circumstance 1.060 (1.036 to 1.085), family history 1.189 (0.956 to 1.480), and frequency of physical activities 0.584 (0.460 to 0.742). Conclusion Current results indicate that gender (male), overweight, obesity, waist circumstance are risk factors of hypertension among children, while frequency of physical activities is protective factor.
It has been 36 years since the first version of essential medicine list (EML) was released by WHO in 1977,when 18 versions of WHO-EML and four versions of children essential medicine list have been released. In 1982, the first version of national essential medicine list (NEML) was released in China. Till 2012, there were eight versions of NEML in total. This paper introduces WHO-EML in aspects of origin, idea, definition, design, and innovation of selection methodology,principle, and workflow; compares the evolution, design, selection methodology between WHO-EML and Chinese NEML; and points out the challenges of evaluation and decision making of Chinese NEML.
Objective To investigate current situation of medical service and management in Gaozha Central Township Health Center (GzC), so as to provide baseline data for township health centers in both key techniques research and product development of drugs allocation and delivery. Methods A questionnaire combined with a special interview was carried out, which included the general information, human resources, medical service and management, and the practice of essential medicine list. Results a) The hardware condition of GzC was not good enough, and the economic status of the service recipients was lower than the average level of both Wuzhong City and China mainland; b) The constituent ratio of general practitioner (GP) and nurse, and GP and laboratorian were all lower than those of national level, while, the constituent ratio of GP and technician was a little bit higher. GzC was in short of medical technical personnel and, especially, the professional pharmacists. The logistics technical workers were as the same proportion as the nurses. The medical technical personnel without professional education background accounted for 3.4%, and about 38% of the staff members had no college degree, about 86.2% had at most primary profession titles. There was no personnel turnover of GzC in recently years; c) The bed utilization ratio was lower than national level (46.4% vs. 60.7%), while the average duration of stay and the in-patient and out-patient service workload of GP were longer or heavier than national level (8 vs. 4.8, 9 vs. 8.3, 4 vs. 1.3); d) The out-patient service in 2010 decreased 26.9% compared to 2009; and the in-patient service in 2010 decreased 42.4%; e) The average medical expense per outpatient and per inpatient increased 127.3% and 56.2%, respectively in 2010 compared to 2009; and f) Essential medicine list was put into practice in April 1st of 2010 and there was only 195 species available in GzC, which has not met the requirements of the national essential medicine list. Conclusion In order to meet the standards of general rural township health center in western China, GzC needs to cope with challenges of insufficient hardware conditions, short of staff, unreasonable personnel structure, low educational background and professional title of the staff, none human resources flow and low technical level of medical service. GzC dose well in drug expenses control, and the hospitalization costs are lower than those of the national level. However, it increases rapidly in 2010. The management of GzC may be influenced by zero-profit sale of the essential drugs, and appropriate subsidy and policy support are necessary to maintain its service quality. And it is required to complement the medicine based on the evidences, to carry out staff training and usage guidance of essential medicine, and to finally guarantee the safe and reasonable use of medicines.
Objective To investigate the disease constitution and cost of inpatients in Gaozha Central Township Health Center (GzC) in Wuzhong City of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from 2008 to 2010, so as to provide baseline data for further research. Methods A questionnaire combined with a special interview was carried out, and case records and cost information of GzC inpatients in 2008, 2009 and 2010 (from January to November) were collected. The diseases in discharge record were classified according to International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) based on the first diagnose and the cost was analyzed. Data including general information of the inpatients, discharge diagnosis, hospitalization expenses, and drug cost etc. were rearranged and analyzed by Excel software. Results a) The total number of the inpatients was 1124, 642 and 747 in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. The female was more than the male in both 2008 (59.34% vs. 40.66%) and 2009 (60.75% vs. 39.25%), and their disease spectrum included 17 categories, which accounted for 81% of ICD-10; b) The top six most commonly seen systematic diseases with a constituent ratio from 86.63% to 92.06% in recent three years were as follows: the respiratory system, digestive system, circulatory system, genitourinary system, injury and toxicosis, skeletal musculature and connective tissue disease. Except the injury and toxicosis, the other five systematic diseases were commonly seen in females rather than in males; c) The top 15 monopathies in recent three years were pulmonary infection, tracheitis or bronchitis, coronary heart disease, soft tissue injury, gastritis or chronic gastritis, upper respiratory infection, hypertension, urinary tract infection, prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc, pelvic inflammation, fracture, pneumocardial diseases, superficial injury, chronic cholecystitis and arthritis; d) The main burdens of disease for inpatients focused on 35-54 age groups, then followed by the age groups above 55 in 2008 and 2009. Except the injury and toxicosis, the other diseases were commonly seen in females rather than in males. Pulmonary infection focused on the age groups above 35; the onset of hypertension increased obviously and a sharp rise of hypertension existed in the 45-54 age groups in 2008, but the hypertention focused on 35-44 age groups in 2009; e) The total inpatients with top 15 monopathies accounted for 64.06% to 71.21%, including 8-9 chronic diseases ranking higher in 2010, and 6-7 acute diseases focusing on infection and injury; and f) The average costs of chronic diseases were higher than those of acute diseases. Conclusion a) There is a big gap between GzC and Yong’an Central Township Health Center (YaC) regarding the level of the regional economic development, the situation of disease burden and cost of inpatients. The former is demonstrated as general Central Township Health Center, while the latter as affluent Central Township Health Center in western China; b) In recent three years, the main systematic diseases are in respiratory, circulatory and digestive system; the inpatients suffer from more chronic diseases rather than acute diseases in their young age; the acute diseases mainly include infection and injury, and the pulmonary infection has ranked as the first during the past three years; c) The inpatients in 2008 and 2009 are mainly in ages of 35 to 54, and then are over 55 years old. Except the injury and toxicosis, the other diseases were commonly seen in females rather than in males; d) The patients’ average costs of chronic diseases for hospitalization and drug in 2010 were lower than those of YaC. Consideration on reasonable constitution of the cost for hospitalization should be paid attention to; and e) It is urgent to strengthen the construction of infrastructure and informatization in GzC.
Objective To understand the attitude of xinjiang medical workers towards national essential drugs and the requirements and suggestions about training, so as to provide necessary baseline information for spreading the application of Essential Medicine List (EML) in Xinjiang. Methods A questionnaire designed by Chinese Evidence-Based Medical Center was distributed for a face-to-face survey. The data were double-input by EpiData 3.1 with double checks, and statistically analyzed by EXCEL with constituent ratio as the statistical index. Results A total of 80 questionnaires were distributed and then retrieved with 100% recovery rate. Respondents employed in six public hospitals at or above the county level and in six community health service centers as well. a) The accuracy of 80 respondents about the basic concepts of essential drugs, serviceable range of EML, and the relationship between EML and basic medicare drug list were 72.6%, 89.5% and 17.8%, respectively; b) 33.8% (27) of the respondents always firstly considered using the essential medicine in their prescription, and 22.5% (18) of the respondents considered using essential drugs in most cases; c) EML were welcome loy 35% (28) of the respondents; d) The problems of practicing EML issued by respondents were the following in order: doctors’ awareness of essential drugs and prescribing habit of doctors, the safety and effectiveness of essential drugs, lower income, patients’ awareness of essential drugs and preference to medication, and the applicability of the essential medicine list; e) The main approaches to getting information about essential drugs were academic seminars (37 person-time, 46.2%), professional journals (27 person-time, 33.8%) and documents (25 person-time, 31.2%); f) There were 46 respondents who had participated in EML training once or twice; g) The total EML training or learning time of 34 respondents (42.5%) was less than one week; and h) Respondents suggested that, the training objects should be medical personnel, pharmacists and administrators; the training contents should be rational drug use, formularies and the use of essential drugs, drug policy, and the effectiveness of integration of the traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine; the training methods should be theoretical teaching and online learning; and the training place should be hospitals, homes or offices. Conclusion It is extremely urgent to improve doctors’ awareness of EML and strengthen the training of usage, and to conduct the research on EML applicability and effectiveness evaluation, financial subsidies, medical staff income, purchase and reimbursement problems.
Objective To investigate the situation of supplemental drugs to the national essential medicines list (EML) in primary health care facilities. Methods Supplemental essential medicine lists published by provincial governments around our country were identified. Characteristics of categories, names and quantities of the supplemental drugs were extracted and compared. Results Supplemental lists issued by 13 provinces were included. The number of the supplemental drugs of four provinces including Jiangsu, Guangdong, Inner Mongolia and Shandong surpassed 200. All the included lists contained chemicals and traditional Chinese medicine, as well as nine categories mentioned in the EML. The frequency of 17 drugs in the supplemental lists was over 10. Specific paediatrics drugs and antitumor drugs were considered by several provinces. Conclusion At present, EML cannot meet the requirements of the primary healthcare. Selection and amendment of EML may refer to the supplemental lists which reflect the demands of essential drugs in every area in our country.
Objective To understand current situation of medical service and management in Yong’an Central Township Health Center (YaC) through on-the-spot investigation, in order to provide references for personal employment and essential medicines list implement in township health centers. Methods Questionnaire and focus interview were carried out, which included the general information, human resources, medical service and management, and the practice of essential medicines list. Results The hardware equipments of YaC were fine, and the target population had fairly good health and economy status. The ratio of General Practitioner (GP)/ nurse and GP/ pharmacist were all above the national average level. The members with college degree and above accounted for 61.6%, and about 88% staffs were with or below primary profession titles. There was a balance between personnel flow out and in. The drug income accounted for 53.6% of the whole in 2009 and the medical expenses increased compared to 2008. Essential medicines list was put into practice in April 1st of 2010 with no relevant technical documents as correspondence. Conclusion YaC, as a good representative of fairly well-off rural Township Health Center in western China, needs to cope with challenges of irrational personnel structure, low educational background and professional title of the staff and human resources flow, and requires developing policy and adopting measures step by step. The management of YaC may be influenced by zero-profit price of the essential medicine, and appropriate subsidy and policy support are necessary to maintain current service quality.
Objective To investigate the disease constitution and drug application of inpatients in Yong’an Central Township Health Center (YaC) in Shuangliu County of Sichuan province in 2009, so as to provide baseline data for further research. Method Questionnaire and focus interview were carried out, case records and drug application information of YaC inpatients in 2009 were collected. The diseases were classified according to ICD-10 based on first diagnose. Drug application was analyzed based on pharmaceutical dosage form, pharmaceutical effect, cost, and clinical departments. Data including general information of the inpatients, discharge diagnosis, hospitalization expenses, and drug cost etc. were rearranged and analyzed by Excel software. Result a) The total number of inpatients was 4 335 and the female/male was 55.59% vs. 44.1%, their disease spectrum included 18 categories, which accounted for 85% of disease classes of ICD-10; b) The inpatients suffered from top 5 systematic diseases were 3 531, accounted for 81.45%, which included the respiratory, digestive, urinary tract and urogenital, circulatory systems, as well as trauma and toxicosis. Except the trauma and toxicosis, the female was more than the male in all the rest main systematic diseases; c) The top 15 single diseases were chronic bronchitis in acute stage, acute upper respiratory infection, pneumonia, acute gastroenteritis, chronic bronchitis, urinary stone, acute appendicitis, chronic gastritis, acute gastritis, vertebrobasilar ischemia, cesarean section, fracture, acute urticaria, and meniere disease; d) The total inpatients with top 15 single diseases accounted for 59.81%, including 6 chronic diseases and 9 acute diseases. The patients’ average costs of chronic disease were higher than that of acute disease; and e) The proportion of western medicine cost accounted for 80% to 90% of total cost, and the cost of anti-microbial drugs and drugs of humoral regulation ranked as the top two. Conclusion a) The inpatients in 2009 are mainly in age of 25 to 59, and over 60 years old as well. The top two diseases mainly attacked are in respiratory and digestive systems, acute diseases are more than the chronic; b) Except for pneumonia, urinary stone, uroschesis, urinary stone, trauma, and toxicosis, the female inpatients are more than the male for complaining all other diseases; c) The number of inpatients received hysterotomy is as 4.24 times as that of natural labor, and the rationality should be paid attention to; d) The commonly used drugs, according to the costs, involve in 4 kinds of drugs and 1 kind of vaccine, which are in accordance with the main burden of the diseases; e) Supervision should be focused on the drugs of high cost or the one most frequently used; and f) The 0.9% Sodium chloride injection, Glucose injection and Cefuroxime listed in the EML (2009) satisfy the needs of treatment for YaC inpatients in 2009.
Objective To provide baseline data for further evidence-based evaluation and selection of essential medicine by analyzing the inpatient disease constitution in 8 pilot township health centers located in eastern, central and western China in 2010. Methods The analysis was performed to compare the similarities and differences of both systematic diseases and top 15 single diseases of inpatients in 8 pilot township health centers located in eastern, central and western China in 2010. The Microsoft Excel 2003 and SPSS 13.0 softwares were used for data classification and analysis, and the frequency and composition were used as describing statistical indicators. Results a) The top 5 systematic diseases were respiratory, digestive, circulatory, urinary tract and urogenital systems, as well as the trauma and toxicosis, with accumulative constituent ratio accounting for 71.0%-81.6%; b) The inpatients suffering from top 15 systematic diseases were 10 630, accounting for 61.10%. Each of the respiratory and digestive system contained 6 single diseases including 4 acute and 2 chronic ones, with inpatients accounting for 99.2% and 93.8%, respectively; the circulatory system contained 3 single diseases which were all chronic with inpatient ratio of 84.6%; and c) The chronic diseases were in majority within the top 15 single diseases, which were most commonly seen rather than acute diseases in the pilot township health centers in eastern and central China. The inpatients’ acute diseases were more often seen than chronic diseases in well-off and fundamental township health centers. Conclusion a) The top 5-6 systematic diseases are stable in the pilot township health centers in eastern, central and western China in 2010. The common single inpatient diseases are centralized, which benefits the selection and adjustment of essential medicine for the pilot township health centers in China; b) The capacity building of the western, fundamental and well-off township health centers to diagnose and treat inpatients suffering acute diseases should be promoted; c) The capacity building of the central and general township health centers to diagnose and manage inpatients suffering chronic diseases should be promoted; d) The capacity building of the eastern and well-off township health centers to provide outpatient service should be promoted. The function of the eastern township health centers needs further clarification and improvement; and e) More attention should be paid to diseases prevention, control and treatment for women, children, the elderly and the population with high burden of diseases.
Objective To investigate the performance of Essential Medicine List (EML) policy over the past one year in Xintian Township Health Center (XTHC), so as to provide references for the delivery, storage and compensation mechanism of essential medicine for township hospitals. Methods Focus interview combined with a questionnaire was carried out to investigate the supply and usage of EML, the situation of both diagnosis-treatment services and the income-expenditure change before and after EML policy. Results a) It showed that there was an increasing trend with the preparation rate of EML from 62.2% before implementation to 87.3% after, and the proportion of EML income to total medicine expenses increased from 39.3% to 90.6% in XTHC. But problems still existed such as incomplete and old variety of medicine; b) The numbers of outpatient-time and inpatient-time kept growing, while medical cost for both average clinic cost and average hospitalization cost decreased to different extent; c) Although the gross income increased slightly, this center was still running in the red with the limited amount of financial assistance; and d) The proportion of medical care and drug kept decreasing while the proportion of drug cost and examination cost kept increasing. Compared with the situation in 2009, the proportion of examination cost from 2010 to 2011 had increased by 30%, and it still remained at the previous level after EML implementation. Conclusion The implementation of EML does not completely change the predicament of “Make compensation for doctors by selling drugs” in township health center. Owing to the sale policy of zero price difference and the poor performance of compensation for township health centers, XTHC is still running under deficit. Evidence-based medicine selection and research on compensation mechanism for underdeveloped areas are urgently needed.